We recently discovered that there was an e-mail server issue for the e-mail addresses related to the Ask Science Dude site. This would effectively prevent any questions you have submitted from making it to the Dude. We apologize for the inconvenience, and wanted to drop a quick message here on the site to let you all know that all of those issues have now been resolved and e-mail is back!

So if you have submitted any questions recently, or have even just sent Sinead a message via the related e-mail addresses then you might want to give them another go. Just to be sure that they got through. Once again, we apologize for any inconveniences this short disruption of the e-mail server may have caused. Thanks for all the support!

In this episode of the podcast, Science Dude and the Angry Hippie look at science’s problematic search for the ‘gay’ gene, and the issues attached to this seemingly bigoted quest. We also take a look at a question raised about the biological energy differential between men and women to see if the host of another podcast is correct in her assertions that females are naturally biologically disadvantaged over the males of the species. Featuring a fantastic reading by Luna Allison.

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Links from Sinead

Luna Allison’s website

OMIM: online medelian inheritance in man; has a list of science studies on the biological basis of homosexuality (and other human traits)

… and you can actually *do a virtual version of newton’s expt online* here

In this episode of the podcast, Sinead and the Angry Hippie examine the facts and societally hard truths of chocolate, the processes involved in transforming cocoa into the popular forms we know and love today, and the slavery that has always been attached to the trade and corporatization of this commodity.

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Links from Sinead

Awesome online exhibition. Check out the kids section for interactive stuff! So cool! Hours of fun! Addictive like crack!

A less-nerdy online “all about chocolate” site.

The evolution and genetics of cacao.

About chocolate slavery, with a list of slave-free chocolates, and letter-writing campaigns.

Definintion of the “worst forms of child labour”.

info on tea, coffee and cocoa trading

bbc programme on chocolate.

a good article on chocolate slavery.

The encyclopedia of yum!

Finally, how to make your own chocolate bars at home, should you be so inclined.

I recently learned that March 24th has special significance in the technical and scientific communities, and one that I should have taken note of before this year. But as the saying goes, better late than never. For those who have not heard of this day before, much like I was until last week, it is Ada Lovelace Day, an international day of blogging to celebrate the achievements of women in technology and science. After learning that, there was no way could I not post today in celebration, and to honor my co-host, my friend, Sinead.

For a little background on the Enchantress of Numbers, I pulled a small excerpt from the Wiki to fill you in on this amazing woman.

Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (10 December 1815 – 27 November 1852), born Augusta Ada Byron, was an English writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage’s early mechanical general-purpose computer, the analytical engine. Her notes on the engine include what is recognized as the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine; as such she is often regarded as the world’s first computer programmer.

Also for a more in-depth and sort of fun look at the woman behind today, you can view the short little video that BrainPOP made about her for kids.

So today has become a day to celebrate all women working in these fields and recognize their achievements. And given that Sinead has single handedly made science more accessible to the masses through the podcast and the blog, both with a level of listener interaction that allows the show to connect with each person, I had to give her a huge thanks. Not to mention, a long overdo pat on the back for taking on this challenge and reaching out in the community to help teach and enrich people’s lives through science.

I know that Sinead has done so many wonderful things that I should be mentioning, because she is that kind of dynamic and driven individual. But the podcast, naturally as it would, holds a special place in my heart for it’s is an enormous project that she began and has undertaken so brilliantly that I cannot help but give her praise for it. The show has taught me so much, and opened my eyes in ways I more than likely would have remained ignorant to, and for that I find myself constantly in awe of her ability to explain a topic and relate a topic to those outside her chosen field so effortlessly and comprehensively. It truly is a spectacular talent that she has.

So on this day of recognition, Sinead, I shine that spotlight on you for doing all of the amazing work and outreach that you do. You are an inspiration to us all!

For more on Ada

If you would like to find out more about the amazing woman who is responsible for this day of honoring, visit Finding Ada, to be connected with a network of related information and postings. Thanks for taking time to check out our feature for Ada Lovelace Day 2010.

In this episode of the podcast, Sinead and the Angry Hippie take a look at the contract that the scientific community working in the public sector has with the public, and how climategate has effected this contract. An interesting discussion with both perspectives considered and represented.

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Sinead found this illustration on a blog that really exemplifies the discussion we had on the episode about climategate. Click on the link or the image to see the follow up diagram.

And just because the episode is over, doesn’t mean that the discussion will end. If there are more questions that anyone has along these lines, please let us know so that we can address them in the future.

Once again it is time for another episode of the podcast. Ask Science Dude : Macro v Microevolution! In this episode Sinead looks at macro-evolution and micro-evolution and the differences between them. Also, with an interesting look back at dinosaurs, Sinead covers the evolution of flight.

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A few Links from the Dude

Online exhibit about the evolution of vertebrate flight! Hours and hours of fun, but it won’t make you fly.

Darwin’s finches!

And just because the episode is over, doesn’t mean that the discussion will end. If there are more questions that anyone has along these lines, please let us know so that we can address them in the future.

As Rob and I talk about on the macroevolution podcast, someone asked me why the way to keep champagne bubbly after opening it is to hang a spoon or fork in the bottle (handle down). Forget why. I don’t even know if I believe the if.  I am skeptical of this, but think that keeping your bubbly bubbly is a very important goal indeedy. Soooo… I propose a Science Project. To participate, here’s what you’ll need:

3 bottles of champagne or bubbly wine, 1 die (raid the Monopoly game!), enough room in your fridge for the 3 bottles, and at least one friend.

Your method: On day 1, uncork two of the bottles. You’ll need to take about a glass of champagne out of each bottle. Feel free to drink this, or share with a friend.  Place one of the bottles in the fridge uncorked, and the second in the fridge with a fork or spoon in it. Place the third bottle in the fridge as well, but don’t uncork it. This is your “control” bottle, so it needs to be subjected to the same temperature regime as your two “treatment” bottles. On day 2, number the bottles 1-3. Keep track of which number corresponds to which treatment. With your friend(s) in another room, open the last bottle and remove a glass of champagne from it. Place all three bottles on the table. Stealthily hide the fork in the kitchen sink. You should now have three open bottles, each with a number on them, each with the same amount of bubbly in them, and they should all look exactly the same (except the numbers). Now, have your friend come in and roll the dice. If they roll a 1 or 2, they get to try bottle 1 first. If they roll a 3 or 4, they get to try bottle 2 first, and if they roll a 5 or 6, it’s bottle 3. Well, a small glass anyway. Then they roll again to see which one is next, and finally, they try the last bottle. Then, they tell you which glass was the fizzyest, which was the second fizzyest, and which was the least fizzy.  Record your findings. For each of your testers, you’ll need to write down the fizzyness rank of each of the bottles. If you are very nerdy, record them in a spreadsheet, along with details such as the kind of bubbly you used. Email your data through the Question Bot (Qbot) on this site.  If enough of you participate in this extremely worthwhile experiment, I’ll analyse the results on the podcast, and talk about the science of bubbles, and the science of champagne.

Now excuse me. I have to go buy three bottles of fine vegan champagne and find a few volunteer fizz testers…

After a month off fighting the flu, Sinead is back as is another episode of the podcast. Ask Science Dude : Antibiotic Resistance! In this episode Sinead looks at antibiotic resistance and the way that bacteria react to the chemicals we use on the daily to combat them after receiving a question from a listener…all this after a brief rant on Climategate.
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And just because the episode is over, doesn’t mean that the discussion will end. If there are more questions that anyone has along these lines, please let us know so that we can address them in the future.

Yesterday we posted the study that goes along with this episode on the blog. For those who did not see it, or just who did not grab the Zombie Infection Model, there it is again. It is not necessary for this episode, but it will give you more background on what we are discussing.

So without further ado, we present a special Halloween treat, Ask Science Dude : Zombie Apocalypse! In this episode Sinead looks at epidemiological modeling in terms of projecting infectious diseases through the use of differential equations and a survival guide to the zombie apocalypse.
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And just because the episode is over, doesn’t mean that the discussion will end. If there are more questions that anyone has along these lines, please let us know so that we can address them in the future.

For those of you who listened to the last episode of the show, you heard us mention that the next episode would be covering an explanation of how disease spreads so rapidly and easily in today’s society, through use of a chapter from a book on Infectious Disease Modeling. The chapter is called, When Zombies Attack!: A Mathematical Modelling of an Outbreak of Zombie Infection. And below is a downloadable PDF copy of the chapter so that anyone who wishes can check it out before the episode and follow the conversation a little easier as you listen.

The link to the chapter is here:
Zombie Infection Model